Mancini unhappy with mis-firing City

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has criticised players after they fired a blank for the first time this English Premier League season.

The Italian was left frustrated as his side dominated possession throughout Monday’s match with West Bromwich Albion, only for a determined display from Roy Hodgson’s men ensuring the scores finished 0-0 at the Hawthorns.

“It’s impossible to win, we tried,” Mancini said.

“It was difficult because West Brom played with everyone behind the ball. We couldn’t find a solution and we needed to score quickly in the second-half.”

“It was the same at (in the 3-0 win last Wednesday over) Stoke and today was the same.”

“For this, we need to improve in this situation, for when they get men behind the ball we need to improve. Maybe in the first half we were to slow, but we had a chance and if we had scored the game would have changed.”

City have seen their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League cut to an advantage of just goal difference, and Mancini has raised concerns about his club’s fixture schedule in comparison with other clubs challenging near the top of the table.

“I’m disappointed, because we play January 1 then January 3, but Liverpool play December 29 and then January 3 against us,” he said. “I think that this moment is not right, not good.”

But despite the prospect of seven games in 25 days in January, Mancini is confident his side can navigate the tough run and still win the title – even if they do temporarily slip into second.

“I think (second-placed Manchester) United will win their next game and for us it will be difficult as we play away at Sunderland and that will be difficult to play Liverpool after just 48 hours,” he said.

“I’m confident that we can do a good job in the end. We play a lot of games in January and we could slip into second position but it is important to stay at the top at the end.”

Having guided his side to a tough point, West Brom coach Roy Hodgson was delighted. Into ninth on the Premier League table, his side is now unbeaten in three league games.

“Yes, you have got to be pleased with that haven’t you?” he said.

“We knew the magnitude of the task, and you are always hoping the task is made easier for you by the opponents not being at their best but we didn’t get that, I thought they played well.”

“They played as well as they have been playing and can play, so we had to be at our best to keep them at bay and I thought it was a very disciplined performance.”

“I thought the longer the game went on, the better we dealt with the ball on the counter-attack. I think it’s one of those games when we can say we got the point we deserved.”